Question Number: 15120

Law 15 - Throw In 4/4/2007

RE: AYSO Under 12

ArtK of Culver City, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15089

This is regarding Simon's question [15089] about foot position for a throw-in. I think the "rule" stems mostly from a coaching tool. U-littles don't always get the subtle difference and it's easier to teach them to stand behind the line. Combine this with rookie referees (common in U-little) and general ignorance about the LotG and a "rule" is born!

We don't often have ARs at this level and that complicates things, too. The CR isn't always in the best spot to tell where the child's heel is. Personally, I'm going to worry about: 1) Both feet flat; 2) Two-hands, overhead; 3) Feet on-or-behind, in that order. Especially true when the kids may have only been playing soccer for a few weeks. If we whistled for every bad throw-in the first few weeks at U9, we'd never get a match played! Later in the season, I get gradually pickier.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Art,
I think you made an asute observation as to how the myth could be perpetuated, well done; just a minor point feet flat ONLY refers to heel contact on the touchline if in fact the rest of the foot is inside the field of play . A toe drag is fine as long as SOME part of the foot remains grounded on or behind the touchline. Also Once the ball is released the foot can THEN come off the gound.
LAW 15 "has---- PART ----of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You're probably right, Art. It's one of those things that gets started early, and then becomes a habit that's hard to break. I had a coach of a team from a club with a nationally-recognizable name, try to argue that the toe going over the line made the throw illegal.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 15130